I agree but I keep wondering if Delpo or Raonic or even Cilic are gonna step up to the plate. I guess Delpo would be the most likely to do it.

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Very possibly they have an outside chance to take out 1 out of top 4 in their QF meeting, but cannot sustain the intensity and consistency at semis or finals.

any one outside of top 4 has to really go through at least 3 guys. Once Nadal Steps in, it going to be a bloody war out there! No more free semis walk through for Murray or Djoker like they had in Wimbly or US open.

Australian Open- Djokovic
French Open- Nadal (Djokovic if Nadal isnt back to top form)
Wimbledon- Nadal (Murray if Nadal isnt back to top form)
U.S Open- Murray

Federer or Del Potro could sneak out a slam perhaps, although I wouldnt predict one would either, it wouldnt shock me if one (not both) won one. Anyone else- Berdych, Tsonga, Raonic, Ferrer, would be a huge surprise.

Australian Open- Djokovic
French Open- Nadal (Djokovic if Nadal isnt back to top form)
Wimbledon- Nadal (Murray if Nadal isnt back to top form)
U.S Open- Murray

Federer or Del Potro could sneak out a slam perhaps, although I wouldnt predict one would either, it wouldnt shock me if one (not both) won one. Anyone else- Berdych, Tsonga, Raonic, Ferrer, would be a huge surprise.

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I think Ferrer has a big chance at Roland Garros next year with Nadal (maybe) being out.

I think Ferrer has a big chance at Roland Garros next year with Nadal (maybe) being out.

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Even if Nadal is out of Roland Garros no way Ferrer wins it. Federer owns him on all surfaces, clay included, and even though his clay record vs Djokovic is good (all wins before 2011) he isnt beating him in a slam ever.

I fully expect him to win the AO and USO (only challenged by del Potro). Nadal, in any form, should win his last FO.

The most intriguing tournament of 2013 is going to be Wimbledon. Djokovic is very beatable on grass, Murray is very beatable everywhere, Nadal is a big question mark outside of clay, and the 32-year old Federer may still choose to peak for that particular event as a dangerous floater.

French open - Rafa Nadal (if unhealthy or does not play or not near his

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Nadal wasn't even close to healthy at this year's Roland Garros, and he still only dropped one set. He took painkillers throughout the clay season, since that withdrawal from the Miami semis. So it will take a lot more than bad health for Nadal to lose Roland Garros. It will take, parental divorce or separation.

I fully expect him to win the AO and USO (only challenged by del Potro). Nadal, in any form, should win his last FO.

The most intriguing tournament of 2013 is going to be Wimbledon. Djokovic is very beatable on grass, Murray is very beatable everywhere, Nadal is a big question mark outside of clay, and the 32-year old Federer may still choose to peak for that particular event as a dangerous floater.

Nadal wasn't even close to healthy at this year's Roland Garros, and he still only dropped one set. He took painkillers throughout the clay season, since that withdrawal from the Miami semis. So it will take a lot more than bad health for Nadal to lose Roland Garros. It will take, parental divorce or separation.

Murray had a dream run in winning the USO but otherwise played unspectacular tennis for most of the year - even if it was his best. He, of all people, benefited the most from Nadal being absent. I will pick him for winning no majors next year or that he'll come right and sneak in the US Open. Prior to that I give him about 20% chance at the Aussie Open, 10% if Nadal is playing at all well.

Aussie Open I'll go for Djokovic, French Open - Nadal and Wimbledon - Federer.

Murray had a dream run in winning the USO but otherwise played unspectacular tennis for most of the year - even if it was his best. He, of all people, benefited the most from Nadal being absent. I will pick him for winning no majors next year or that he'll come right and sneak in the US Open. Prior to that I give him about 20% chance at the Aussie Open, 10% if Nadal is playing at all well.

Aussie Open I'll go for Djokovic, French Open - Nadal and Wimbledon - Federer.

Sound familiar?

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Murray himself said he likes to play Roger in Wimbledon grass. So I feel he has very good chances there

With Nadal absent there's a slight chance of someone out of the top 4 doing it. He would have to beat 2 of the top 4, and maybe even only 1 if the top 4 guy in his half gets upset. That's not entirely impossible imo.

Murray had a dream run in winning the USO but otherwise played unspectacular tennis for most of the year - even if it was his best. He, of all people, benefited the most from Nadal being absent. I will pick him for winning no majors next year or that he'll come right and sneak in the US Open. Prior to that I give him about 20% chance at the Aussie Open, 10% if Nadal is playing at all well.
Aussie Open I'll go for Djokovic, French Open - Nadal and Wimbledon - Federer.

Sound familiar?

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Yep - he was garbage when he took Nole all the way in the AO semis, terrible when he made the final of Wimbledon and bloody awful when he won the Olympics.

10% chance to beat Nadal at the AO? Is this the same Nadal with a 2-2 H2h v Murray in hardcourt slams? The same Nadal that Murray leads 5-4 on hards since 2008 - that Nadal?

I'm loving how you concede that Murray might 'sneak' the USO. Others would win it of course, but Murray would sneak it - despite beign the defending champion.

Yep - he was garbage when he took Nole all the way in the AO semis, terrible when he made the final of Wimbledon and bloody awful when he won the Olympics.

10% chance to beat Nadal at the AO? Is this the same Nadal with a 2-2 H2h v Murray in hardcourt slams? The same Nadal that Murray leads 5-4 on hards since 2008 - that Nadal?

I'm loving how you concede that Murray might 'sneak' the USO. Others would win it of course, but Murray would sneak it - despite beign the defending champion.

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Why are you getting all bent out of shape? The fact is when it comes to slams Murray is minor league compared to the other elite players, Nadal, Federer and Djokovic. You are correct that Murray on HC may defeat Nadal in a future slam (I think he will), he may be able to beat Federer in a future slam now that he has defeated him at the Olympics and he may defeat Novak in more future slams, but until he actually proves himself capable of having the "mind" to be a multiple slam winner, the other players will be favored.